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Cabinet Secretary Copeland speaks at Chamber luncheon

Aging and Long-Term Services Cabinet Secretary Myles Copeland spoke on how taking care of a parent or spouse affects businesses at the May 5 meeting of the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

Aging and Long-Term Services Cabinet Secretary Myles Copeland spoke on how taking care of a parent or spouse affects businesses at the May 5 meeting of the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

Copeland has been in the department since 2013, after working for the Alzheimer's Association, and was named cabinet secretary in 2015.

"I am going to speak on things you can do to support your employees who are taking care of a family member," Copeland said.

He cited statistics showing that 419,000 New Mexicans serve as family caregivers annually, with 287,000 doing so at any one time. They contribute an average 18.4 hours unpaid care weekly with a value of $274 million a year.

"We acknowledge how important this care is," Copeland said. "I'll explain what role you play as an employer.

"The caregivers have probably asked you for help," he continued. "When we're taking care of a parent or spouse, we want to make sure they're safe."

Nationally, caregivers provide 80 percent of long-term care and contribute $306 billion annually. He also said two-thirds of caregivers are self-neglecting.

In the planning process for the New Mexico State Plan for Family Caregivers, the AARP did a telephone survey of 1,000 registered voters older than 45 years. The survey identified caregiver needs and resources and the department identified strategies to bridge the gaps by developing the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center.

Sixty percent of family caregivers are women. Higher percentages of Hispanic than non-Hispanic Whites serve as family caregivers. The number of Native Americans aged older than 75 years will double in the next 25 years, and caregiver ratio will be further reduced by out-migration from reservations.

"A caregiver starts out by taking Mom to the doctor, then doing the cooking, then the cleaning, bathing and grooming," Copeland noted. "Nationally, one third of caregivers have more than one recipient they are caring for."

He presented more statistics, with 74 percent of adults with eldercare responsibility having worked while caregiving. Among New Mexicans, 69 percent altered their work schedule or took time off, 34 percent took a leave of absence and 24 percent went from working full-time to part-time.

Caregivers have higher stress and depression, and lower subjective well being and physical health, with the differences low to medium. They move to moderate to severe if taking care of dementia patients. Caregiver risks include heart disease, hypertension and stroke. They also report feeling stressed out emotionally, have difficulty getting enough rest and difficulty exercising regularly.

Many New Mexico caregivers reported having to use their own dollars to provide care and feeling financially strained. Those who leave the workforce to care for a parent lose $303,880 in wages, social security and pensions. The amount rises to $324,044 among women, so they end up not having resources for themselves when they need them.

"We have a database of resources," Copeland said. "We can also help with care transition to move a patient from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility or back home.

"Having worked for the Alzheimer's Association, I know that training is transformative," he said. "It doesn't help to argue with the person with dementia. They won't remember. The training shifts people's perspective."

The department offers training around the state, so the knowledge is localized and "you know the people who need it.

"People need to do a better job of making decisions before it's too late," Copeland said. "They need to do advanced medical, financial and legal planning to allow for self-determination and ease the caregiver burden."

"Most of us live in the gap where we don't have enough to take care of long-term needs, but are not poor enough for Medicaid," Copeland said. "Employers should be encouraged to support employees who are family caregivers. One of our goals is to educate employers about the needs of caregivers. Family caregivers are the ones who take responsibility, and those are the employees we want to keep. It behooves you to keep them working for you. It means flexibility and can take a combination of paid and unpaid leave. Be aware of the challenges the employee faces. Direct your employees to available supports."

"The Non-Metro Agency on Aging has closed its administrative offices in Deming and Clovis to put more money toward services instead of administration," Copeland said. "We have been assured you will continue to get services."

Copeland said home health is not paid by Medicaid. "My department tries to keep people living in our communities. This plan is intended to come up with things that are doable — how to help people take care of other people."

A Chamber board member asked if resources were available outside of New Mexico for those who live here, but their parents live in other states.

"The ADRC can direct you to other states' resources," Copeland replied.